During his campaign, President Donald Trump vowed to bring massive changes to the U.S. Department of Education. These changes could include consolidating the department dramatically or dismantling it in its entirety.

Embedded in the Department of Education is the Office of Federal Student Aid, which is responsible for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, also known as FAFSA. Alex Smith, a University of Iowa political science lecturer, said FAFSA is important to millions of college students.

“They provide funding to help make it possible for students to attend higher education institutions,” he said.

The funding covers student aid programs and a variety of loan programs, including loan forgiveness and alternative programs for individuals with a higher level of need. Under the Trump administration, students are questioning the future of student aid and the Department of Education.

Smith acknowledged while the presidential administration could not legally dismantle the department or reallocate the funding for federal aid, the U.S. system of government depends on individual branches using their power of checks and balances to defend against any abuses. However, it does not guarantee each branch will enforce this.

“If Congress doesn’t stop them and the court doesn’t stop them, then the answer is yes, they can do it,” Smith said.

He then reassured that even if the department were to get dismantled, student aid is unlikely to go away entirely.

“I don’t think student aid is just going to disappear, but the nature of it might change,” he said. “That would most likely be done legally through the official process — legislation passed through Congress and then signed by the president.”

Smith said moving the responsibility of student aid to the U.S. Department of Treasury or the states are possibilities, along with moving aid out of the public sector altogether and putting it in private banks.

There is no way to determine if the amount of student aid being distributed would remain the same if any of these changes were to take place. This has led to significant concerns among students at the UI.

Madison Hovancik, a third-year student at the UI, said she would not be able to attend college without help from the federal government.

“There’s so many people out there, including myself, that rely on that money in order to continue [school],” she said. “It’s just frustrating, and you just have to wait and see what’s going to happen.”

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Hovancik said she disagrees with any motion to reduce or change the federal programs, saying student aid is necessary for many people to achieve higher education.

“I don’t think it’s right at all. [FAFSA] was implemented in the first place to help people,” she said. “I don’t understand why we’re taking that away from people who want to further their education because not everybody does, so the people that do should have all the resources that they need if they aren’t financially stable.”

Third-year UI student Samara Summers said she received a significant amount of financial aid, which is necessary for her attendance at the university. She expressed her worry she could continue to receive less aid in the coming year.

“[I am] very worried — very deeply concerned. Even now, as I am getting further into my degree as an undergraduate, my aid has already been reduced,” she said. “Now, the fact that I am going to get even less is concerning.”

Summers described the time before college when she realized how much help she was going to need to pay for school and how the stress took a huge emotional toll on her. She said she is overwhelmingly nervous she would feel that again.

“I feel like I am going to have another one of those huge breakdowns about it,” Summers said. “I feel like things are only going to keep getting worse. I have been so stressed about it.”

UI officials clarified there have been no changes to student financial aid and provided the university leadership’s public statement. The statement recognized developments at a federal level have the potential to impact the university and its students in various ways, including financially.

“We want to assure you that we are actively monitoring these changes and taking proactive steps to advocate on behalf of our university,” the statement read.

The university added they are working with the state legislature, relevant state and federal government agencies, legal experts, and a variety of associations to ensure campus remains up-to-date and aligned with new policies or regulations that may arise at the federal level.

The statement acknowledged the potential for change to raise concerns and questions, saying the university is committed to providing timely updates and guidance as the situation evolves.

UI officials declined to provide additional comment.